Cotton ginning apparatus



March 4, 1941. J, BLEWETT 2,233,691

V COTTON GINNING APPARATUS Filed March 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Elma/WW John blewerr March 4, 1941. J. BLEWETT COTTON GINNING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 14, 1938 John 15mm Patented Mar. 4, 1941 COTTON GINNING APPARATUS John Blewett, Dallas, Tex., assignor to The Murray Company, Dallas, Tex., a `corporation of Texas Application March 14, 1938, Serial No. 195,730

9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cotton ginning apparatus.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus particularly adaptable to air blast cotton gins, whereby separation of the motes, trash, and, other extraneous material, from the cotton is facilitated and the ginning efliciency is increased.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved air nozzle for cotton gins which is so constructed that the moting area of the saws is increased and accumulation of green or wormy cotton on the nozzle, which accumulation interferes with the operation of the gin, is

eliminated, whereby the ginning operation is fa-` cllitated.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved cotton ginning apparatus, wherein an arcuate shield or plate is disposed contiguous to the ginning saws and adjacentthe air nozzle, said shield being readily adjustable whereby more or less peripheral area of the ginning saws may be exposed to increase or decrease the moting area in accordance with the condition of the cotton; the shield also including an extension which overlies the air nozzle and prevents a suction being created in the moting chamber by the air emitting from the nozzle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved air inlet for cotton gins which inlet may be readily varied in size so as to control the suction created adjacent the inlet, whereby the inlet may be adjusted in accordance with the condition of the cotton to increase mote separation and thereby increase ginning eflioiency.

A further object of the `invention is to provide an improved air inlet located between the air conduit and the lint ue, said inlet being formed by a stationary member and a movable member, the latter being movable toward andaway from the stationary member in an arcuate path concentric to the ginning saws, whereby the relative positions of the members to the saws never vary regardless of the positions of said members with relation to each other.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

'I'he invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial side elevation of a gin, having the improved air nozzle, constructed in accordance with the invention, applied thereto.

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse, vertical, sectional view taken through the air nozzle and showing the upper end of the lint duct,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 and showing the lint duct moved to another position,

Figure 4 is a partial transverse, vertical, sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevation of the actuating arm for the duct adjusting means,

Figure 6 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view, showing the means for varying the moting area of the saws, Y

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, with said means` moved to another position,

Figures is a partial end view of one of the supporting castings for the mechanism, and

Figure 9 is a transverse, vertical, sectional View of the usual type of air discharge nozzle.

In the drawings, the numeral Il) designates an air blast cotton gin of the usual construction. The gin includes the roll box II, ginning` saws I2 and ribs I3 which are located and mounted in the conventional manner. Behind the saws I2, a moting chamber' I4 is provided and a conveyor I5 is disposed inthe lower end of said chamber. An air supply conduit (not shown) which is located at the rear ofthe gin communicates with an upwardly curved air supply duct I1 which terminates adjacent the ginning saws. A downwardly curved lint duct I8 extends from the saws contiguous to the supply duct I'I` and conducts the lint vfrom the saws.

The gin operates in the usual manner with the sawsIZ pulling the cotton between the ribs I3. The motes, pin trash and other fine extraneous matter is carried through the ribs by the'saws and by the lint engaging on the saw teeth. Centrifugal force is depended upon to thro-w the motes, and other. foreign particles, from the saws into the mote chamber I4 and the separated motes fall onto the conveyor I5 and are conveyed from the gin. The air supplied from the air duct II is directed against the saws by an air nozzle A at the upper end of this duct and the air stream removes the cotton from said saws. The air stream then passes downwardly through the lint duct I8, carrying the lint` therewith. The above is the conventional method for ginning cotton and has been described merely for the sake of clarity.

The invention resides in the nozzle A and in a moteshield B above said nozzle, as well as in the construction of the upper end of the lint duct I8. As'clearly shown in Figure 2, the rear wall I'Ia of the air supply duct I 7, which extends throughout the transverse width of the gin,'is curved rearwardly at its upper end. An angular deflecting member 2i), having a substantially inverted V-shape, has its lower longitudinal edge portion secured to the upper edge portion of the duct Il and said member extends throughout the length of the duct. The member has its outer or rear` sideZa inclined forwardly from its lower end and has its other side 28h bent downwardly contiguous to the saws I2. This inner side 2Gb is arcuate being concentric to the peripheries' of the saws, whereby it is spaced from saidgsaws an..`

equal distance throughout its width.

Coacting with the curved side 202i of the anguf':

lar deflecting member 2i) to form an air outlet for the duct Il, is a second deflecting member ZI.

ing upper portion of the. deflecting member 2i' and directed against the inclined side Zilla of the angular member 20. The air stream isthen 1 .turned downwardly due to the .shape of the member 20. and Vescapes through the space between the member 2| and the lower edge of the ,curved side 2Gb 'of the member 20. The inclination of the upper portion of the membervZI is such thatthe escaping air streamy is directed substantiallytangentially of the saWs, whereby the cotton lint engaging on the saw teeth is stripped on" of said teeth. This lint, as well as'the air stream is drawn into the lint duct I8, from where it is conducted to the usual baling apparatus (not shown).

:It has been the general practice to form the ,deecting member 20 of a rounded contour in cross-section, .as shown in Figure 9, instead of angular as herein described. Such rounded wall is undesirable as it presents a surfacerwhich is .exposed to the motes being thrown olf by the rotating saws, and accumulation of extraneous matter on the member 20 occurs. This accumulation takes the form of a gummy substance and is particularly obvious when ginning green cot.- ton or wormy cotton. The accumulation ismost undesirable and often necessitates halting ofthe .gin to permit the nozzle to be cleaned, as too great an accumulation interferes with the gin operation. By constructing the top of the nozzle A of the angular member 20, a sharp corner ispresented and the extraneous matter being thrown off by the saws has substantially no surface on which to accumulate and, therefore, such ac.- cumulation is practically eliminated. y

Another feature of the angular member 2Q is the reduction of the induced flow from the :noting 'chamber I4 into the lint duct. This induced flow of air is created by the suction formed by the ,air emitting from the nozzle A. yBy making the member-20 angular the air and motes within the mote chamber behind the member are not drawn into the'lint duct as it is dicultto draw the same around the sharp corner formed at the top vof said member. If the member is of ,av rounded. contour, the air :easily follows .the rounded surface and therefore, the metes and This member has its lower longitudinal' edge. portion secured to the uppery end of the outer The upper end' of the other extraneous matter, are pulled into the lint duct. With the angular member, induced flow at the nozzle is substantially eliminated.

Although the shape of the nozzle A tends to reduce the accumulation on its surface, and to cut down the induced flow, it will not entirely eliminate the same. In order to completely obviate any possible accumulation, as well as to control the meting area of the saws, an arcuate shield or plate 24`is disposed contiguous tothe saws I2. The plate extends entirely across. the interior of the gin and has its lower end engaging and riding on the surface 2Gb of the nozzle. The platel is curved on an arc concentric to the periphery of the saws and is bent upon itself to form a rearwardly'inclined skirt or extension 25,

which overlies the nozzle A and projects down-v Vwardly into the mote chamber, as is clearly shown. in Figure 6. The ends of the extension are bent upwardly to form flanges 26 which add rigidity to the skirt. The plate Tand extension are supported by links 2'I which are located-.one at each end of the extension adjacent the vcastings C. The lower end of each link is, pivotedto one of the flanges at the upperend of saidiiange, while the upper end ofthe link is'fpivotallyfas.-

tened to the outer end, of an actuating arm 28.`

The arms 28 are fastened on an adjustingshaft 29 which has its ends journaled in thegendof the frame. One end of .theshaft projects through the frame and has'an operating, handle 33 secured thereto. The handle is movable `to various positions with relation toan indicator segment 3| which is mounted on theV exterior of the gin frame. Y

When the handle 3U is swung, the shaft '2,9jis rotated and the arms 28 are swung, vwhereby Athe links 27 move the plate 24 and extension 25 ver,- tically within the moting chamberv/'ith relation to'the nozzle A, vThe plate and extension lare f guided in their movement by ahorizontal rod 32'which is fastened to the inner surfaces of said plate 'and skirt, the extremitiesof said shaft being movable in guide slots 32 formed in the caste ings'C.V

When the plate is in the position sh-ownin Figure 6, the upper'end' of said plateis lowered whereby increased saw surface is exposed within the 'moting chamber.' This position of the plate increases themoting area as the metes may be thrown on the saws at' a further point in'rotation. lThe motes which are thrown .oif'fall'onto the skirt or extension 25' and due to its inclination are conducted to the conveyor I5. The skirt or extension not only forms a chute for thesepa'- r rated motes but since it overhangs the nozzle A,

it prevents thel creation of a suction in the'mote chamber above the nozzle, such suction normally being due to the ejection of air from-th'nozzle `against the saws. This suction is furtherdef feated by the lower end of the plate or'f'shield 24 engaging the inner side 2 Gb ofthe nozzle.

When it is desired to reduce the meting` area of the saws, the handle is swung to rotate the shaft 29 so as to move the plate 'Mend extension 25 upwardly, as shown in Figure '7. Thiscauses the plate to move upwardly with'relation to the saws so as to cover more area thereof and thereby expose less saw -area to the `motingchanibe`n Thus, the plate may be suitably adjusted tosuit the condition ofthe cotton and in all adjusted positions, a creation of suction in the mote cham# .ber is defeated. In ginning ,wormy or green cotton, an accumulation might occur on the platebut this accumulation will be automatically "removed -by the vrotating saws and by the suction created bythe' air emitting from the nozzle A.

The amount of airv passing into and through theilint duct I 8 must be varied in accordance with the condition of the cotton being ginned. 'Toprovide a simple method of adjusting the inlet opening of the lint duct A I8, the forward wall I8a of said duct is movable with relation to the rear wall thereof. v This forward wall curves downwardly vand is suitably secured at its lower end, whereby the entire wall maybe moved inwardly and outwardly of the rear wall thereof.

The upper end of the wall I8a is bent upon itself to form an extension 33y and a transverse rod 34 is confined between the extension and the upper end of the wall. This rod is welded, or otherwise secured, to the rod and wall. The ends of the shaft project into guide slots 35 which are formed in the castings C. 'I'hese slots are arcuate and are concentric to the peripheries of the saws II. When the front wall I8a of the duct I8 is moved with relation to the other wall thereof, the rod 34 moves within the guide slots to guide the movement of said wall, whereby the upper end of the wall is maintained in fixed relation to the saws during its movement. Thus, when the wall I8a. is moved, the inlet of the duct I8 is varied to increase or decrease the size thereof.

For readily swinging the wall I8a, an outwardly projecting ear 36 is provided at each end of the wall I8a, being located below the rod 34. A link 3'I is pivotally secured to each ear and has its lower end pivoted to the outer end of an arm 38. The inner end of each arm is fastened on a transverse shaft 39 and the ends of the shaft project through the end walls of the gin frame I0, being journaled in suitable bearings secured to said end walls. When the shaft 39 is rotated, the arms 38 are swung whereby the links are moved to move the wall I8a.

For rotating the shaft 39, an arm 40 is secured to one end of the shaft and the arm is located exteriorly of the gin. The arm has a collar 4I on its outer end and said collar is movable along a pin 42, which has its upper end pivoted on `a bolt 43 threaded into the end wall of the gin I0. As the collar 4I is moved longitudinally of the pin, the shaft 39 is rotated to swing the front wall I8a of the duct I8. The pin 42 is threaded throughout its length and lock nuts 44 are threaded thereon. The collar 4I of the actuating arm is confined between said nuts and after said arm has been swung to a position to obtain the proper adjustment of the duct inlet, the nuts are tightened against said collar to maintain the adjustment.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with an air blast cotton gin having an air supply duct terminating adjacent the ginning saws, of an air nozzle including, an angular deecting member secured to the upper end of the duct and arranged to direct the air onto the saws to strip the cotton lint from the teeth thereof, an arcuate shield adjacent the inner wall of the nozzle and extending contiguous to the periphery of the saws for controlling the moting area of the saws and for defeating an induced flow of air around the top of the nozzle, said shield being movable in a path substantially concentric to the periphery of the saws and. an inclined extension integral with and depending from the shield and overhanging the nozzle for guiding the motes from the saws and for preventing induced flow of air around the nozzle.

of, an arcuate shield having its lower portion enl gaging the inner wall of the nozzle so as to provide a continuation thereof and extending contiguous vto the periphery of the saws for controlling the moting area of the saws and for defeating an induced iiow of air aroundthe top of the nozzle, and means for moving the shield with relation to the lsaws to uncover more Aor less of the peripheral area of the saws exposed to the meting chamber of the gin.

3. The combination with an air blast cotton gin having an air supply duct terminating adjacent the gin saws, of an air nozzle having its upper end substantially triangular in cross section, and an elongate :arcuate shield adjacent the teeth of the saws for controlling the moting area and having its lower portion movably supported upon the inner triangular wall of the nozzle.

4. The combination with an air blast cotton gin having an air supply duct terminating adjacent the gin saws, of an air nozzle having its upper end substantially triangular in cross section, an arcuate shield adjacent the teeth of the saws for controlling the nioting area and having its lower portion movably supported upon the inner triangular Wall of the nozzle, and a skirt integral with and extending rearwardly from the shield and overhanging the outer triangular wall of the nozzle.

5. The combination with an air blast cotton gin having an air supply duct terminating adjacent the gin saws, of an air nozzle having its upper end substantially triangular in cross section, an arcuate shield adjacent the teeth of the saws for controlling the meting area and having its lower portion movably supported upon the inner triangular wall of the nozzle, and means having an actuating element located exteriorly of the cotton gin for arcuately adjusting said shield.

6. The combination with an air blast cotton gin having an air supply duct terminating adjacent the gin saws, of an air nozzle having its upper end substantially triangular in cross section, a movable arcuate shield adjacent the teeth of the saws for controlling the moting area and having its lower portion engaging the inner triangular wall of the nozzle, a skirt integral with and extending rearwardly from the shield and overhanging the other triangular face of the nozzle, and means having an actuating element located exteriorly of the cotton gin for arcuately adjusting said shield and extension as a unit.

7. The combination with an air blast cotton gin having an air supply duct terminating adjacent the ginning saws, of an air nozzle having its upper end substantially triangular in cross section, a movable shield substantially triangular in cross section receiving the upper end of the nozzle therein and having one face adjacent the teeth of the saws for controlling the moting area of the saws, and means operable from the exterior of the gin for adjusting the shield upwardly with relation to the upper end of the nozzle and maintaining the shield and the nozzle in overlapping relation.

8. 'Ihe combination with an air blast cotton gin having an air supply duct terminating adjacent the` teeth of the saws, of an air nozzle including,4 an angular deecting member secured to the upper end of the duct and arranged to direct the air onto the saws to stripv the cotton lint from .the teethy thereof, a shield overhang ing said member and movable up and down thereon, said shield having its. front side contiguous to the saws for controlling the moting area thereof and for defeatingv arr induced flow of air around the top of the nozzle, and means operable from the exterior of the gin stand for adjusting said shield to` move it. up. or down for controlling the moting area of the saws. l

9.` The combination with an. air blast cotton ginwhaving an air supply duct terminating adjacent to ginning saws, of an air nozzle includ- 110W` of air around the. top of the nozzle, and 10 means for moving the shield concentrically with relation to the saws-to uncover more or less: of the peripheral area-of the sa-Ws exposed to the moting chamber of the gin.`

JOHN BLEWE'I'I. 15 

